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Canal 2003

In 2002 we purchased a week on a Narrow boat in April, a lifetime of one weeks holiday.The boat is Shakespeare Classic called Ophelia and is moored at Barton Turn Marina, Burton under Needwood.

Our first ever holiday was fantastic, we had 30 minutes of training how to steer, and what to check every day, we then had a lesson of working the locks. The engineer showed me how to push the gate arm with my lower back and how to get the gates open with very little effort. We were then on our own for the next six days

We had wanted to do the Coventry Canal but was advised not to this time as we would be facing the wrong way after our lesson. We had to travel to Burton on Trent to turn the boat around before heading in the right direction for Coventry, so we had to go as far as we could along the Trent and Mersey. We got to Stoke and decided to turn and head back to Barlstone, and spent the best part of the next day touring the Wedgewood Factory.

Day one

After spending the night at Bridge Inn moorings and having a meal in a real old world pub, we set off the next morning to Shobnall Basin near Burton on Trent. We executed our first turn, Edward did the steering and I stood up the front of the boat shouting words of encouragement with the pole in my hands don't know what I was supposed to do with it but it looked good. We retraced our steps from the night before and headed south, we had to get through Bridge 36 which looked very narrow but we did it the night before so it wasn't so scary this time.

Once past Barton Lock we carried on to Alrewas, Alrewas is one of prettiest parts of the Trent and Mersey. We stopped for lunch just past Alrewas near Common Lock and had a go at using the stakes for mooring, we didn't do it right and after another boat had gone past we started to drift in to the middle. We now know how to do it properly. We made a note to purchase some hooks and only moor where there is armco or rings.We carried on through to Rugeley where we moored for the night, remembering to use the stakes at an angle away from the boat and put white bin bags on them so people wouldn't trip over them.We were to tired to go looking for a place to eat, so I rustled up some cheese and ham on toast with an egg filling and downed with a hot cuppa we were ready for bed, I had done 13 locks today and my body was telling me to sleep which we did.

Day two

We had breakfast early and then walked across the bridge to Safeways to get some provisions, its is only ten minutes away and was a big Safeways, not like ours was. We are going to take it easy today nice and slow. I did the locks much slower today, and took the time to chat to people we met at the locks, even had a go at steering the boat into the lock and out under the supervision of Edward, decided it was boring and you can't chat to people when you are down in the chamber. I noticed a lot of women work the locks while the men steer, I suppose its the same as driving a car I always let Edward drive keeps him happy. We stopped at Weston-on-Trent just past the Saracens Head where we enjoyed a nice meal and plenty of wine. When we decided to moor there, there was a fisherman enjoying the view, we asked if he minded us stopping by him he replied no he was off home now. We felt better for taking it easy and watched some TV, fresh air and exercise certainly makes you sleepy around 10.00pm I was fast asleep and missed whatever we were watching.

Day three

The next morning the fisherman was back by the time we had got our selves organised and ready to go he was ready for a day of fishing. He was a very nice man I wish all fisherman were like him helpful and friendly. We travelled on through Stone taking pictures of the Jools brewery and then onto Stoke, after Stoke we decided after Hem Heath we would turn and go back to Barlastone and spend the night there so we could have a few hours looking around the Wedgewood factory. There wasn't a pub near by so we decided to stop in a nice spot near some other boats, had a wander to the local shop and a chat to a couple of the boaters on one boat had some lovely lace work for sale, I decided to keep my spending money for our trip around the Wedgewood factory. We had a meal on board: sausages, tinned potatoes, peas and gravy which I got at Safeways in Rugley, it was very nice with a few glasses of wine.

Day four

We had a good breakfast and tidied up the boat before walking to Wedgewood Factory it was an amazing place and the delicate way they put the little shapes on to the pots or plates. We didn't buy anything it was very expensive. After two hours and a cuppa we went back to the boat and started on our way back to Barton Turn planning to stop at the Saracens Head at Weston-on-Trent again, we had such a good meal there we went back to have another. We were not disappointed, Edward really fancied a big steak but didn't think he could manage it like he would in his younger days, the Landlord brought out a 32 ounce steak to show him and said they have a regular customer for one, it would have been 4 meals for us and this person has that with everything else chips eggs you name he has it boy I bet he is big.Edward settled for a steak and kidney pie and chips and I had this lovely pasta and mushrooms dish and salad. The service is extremely good there and is on my list of places to visit in the future.

Day five

We plan on stopping at Fradley tonight so after a late start we made our way through the Haywoods stopping for a while to get rid of our rubbish and had a potter around the shops, before getting underway to Rugeley where we stopped for lunch and another shopping trip to Safeways, after lunch we carried on to Fradley I am amazed at all the private boats moored before Armitage only a few public moorings available at the two pubs, so it was a slow journey through there. We made good time and got to Fradley about 4.30, in time to find a nice mooring and a wander about the place we had a meal at the Swan Inn very nice but wouldn't eat there again it had a very greasy smell to everything. It was a good night and we have just started to relax now we are coming to the end of the holiday.

Day six

After a late start we took it very slowly back to the marina, we stopped and filled up with water at Alrewas and had lunch watching the swans making a nest. It is really so peaceful there I didnt want to move no traffic just the birds singing after lunch we really did have to move if we were going to get back to the marina and get some stuff packed ready for the off in the morning. In those days we could go and moore in the marina which we did, we looked like experts getting the boat into its own jetty the wind did help once we had lined it up it glided into it. Another boat had come back and was having trouble with the heating,they had an old aunt on board who wasnt very well and needed the heat on so they had the boats engine running well after they should have turned it off. The boat which had gone out with us was already there and we caught up on all happenings of the week. We decided to find a pub to have a good meal to end the holiday. We went to a nice pub called the Three bells in Barton under Needwood. We had a lovely holiday I am looking forward to next year.